Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The question has already been asked by Deputy Daly. On the issue of the number of people who find themselves self-employed, which is a legitimate and reasonable choice for many people and could work for many people, anecdotally I have come across people from a wide range of backgrounds, not only migrant or asylum seeker backgrounds, and there is a very significant issue with regard to the exploitation of people through bogus self-employment. There is an issue with unscrupulous employers forcing people to register as self-employed even though they are being given specific tasks and essentially being paid directly by the employer. It is something we come across frequently for the purpose of tax and other reasons and in the case of asylum seekers it is very likely to avoid a number of legal obligations. It is a very real risk particularly when the threshold is being set so high to try to get a work permit. It is a threshold many people who are Irish citizens would probably struggle to reach - to find €1,000 and ensure there is a job offer with €30,000 in pay. It is a very high threshold. I am not necessarily looking for a response although the witnesses can offer one if they wish. I add my voice to that of Deputy Daly. There is a very real risk of exploitation of people through the use of bogus self-employment.

I am conscious we are dealing with a specific issue in this discussion but this committee and, I am sure, the witnesses are very concerned about the human rights implications of asylum policy and direct provision in general. Regarding the directive, when we had the Minister here, the general indication we received is that this was essentially the only area of policy that requires further legislation - or primary or second legislation - to ensure the directive is transposed. Is that the witnesses' understanding? Does the Government need to do anything else, legislatively or practically, to ensure the directive is transposed?